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Kike’s second half strike earns precious debut win

Europa’s first ever Champions League tie ended in victory after a confident performance saw them edge out Welsh Premier Division champions The New Saints 2-1 in their first away leg.

Kike began the night by assisting the opening goal after a good pass down the line from Toni Garcia found the striker who proceeded to lay the ball on a plate for Alex Rodriguez who had made a late darting run into the box. His determination was rewarded with a simple tap in from point blank range to register Europa’s first ever Champions League goal.

However, the hosts would go on to level matters just before half time with a sensational strike from striker Scott Quigley. After receiving a long ball down the wing, the striker flicked the ball with the back of his heel over the oncoming defender before proceeding to lash the ball past a helpless Muñoz in the Europa goal to restore parity.

But Europa managed to find the winner with 12 minutes to go after Walker’s long run down the flank saw the Gibraltar International cut inside to find Kike lurking just outside the box. Last season’s top marksman in the Gibraltar Premier Division wasted little time in stopping the ball before sending it into the top corner to seal the win on a historic night for the club.

Europa will now take their 2-1 lead to Faro next week, where they will look to end The New Saint’s 5 year run of making the 2nd round qualifiers and send Europa into that round at the first time of asking.

Gibraltar International goalkeeper Jordan Perez, 30, has decided to leave St Joseph’s and take a break from football both domestically and internationally until the end of the season. Rumours of his discontent surfaced immediately after the club had announced the appointment of Raul Procopio as manager of the club following the departure of Alfonso Cortijo Cabrera to the Chinese Super League. It is well known that Procopio’s initial arrival at Lincoln Red Imps was the catalyst for Perez to leave the Imps but speaking to GFT, Perez indicates that this decision has not been made on a whim.

I’ve decided to take a break from football for the remainder of this season. I am not enjoying it anymore and before I completely fall out of love with the game and retire I believe I need a break both domestically and internationally. I’ve been contemplating this for a while, and I think that taking a break right now is whats best for me. Perhaps I may be wrong and I may realise I want to continue. Therefore I shall be training aside to keep fit, but as it stands I dont feel I can give the level of commitment that is required if I’m not enjoying it.

Perez has made a total of 32 league appearances for St Joseph’s in his one and a half years with the South District club and has currently amassed 17 caps for Gibraltar internationally since UEFA acceptance. Perez will be remembered for his penalty save from Bastian Schweinsteiger in the Euro Qualifiers against Germany in Faro. It remains to be seen whether Perez will added to his caps total as we wait until the summer and the start of the 17/18 season to find out his final decision. In the meantime however, his departure opens the door for more game time to St Joseph’s young local players to start games for the club.

St Joseph’s have today confirmed the departure of their manager Alfonso Cortijo Cabrera alongside the club’s backroom staff. The news arrives after weeks of speculation surrounding the Saints boss who had reportedly accepted an assistant manager’s role in the Chinese Super League. The club, via twitter confirmed the news:

St Joseph’s FC have parted company with manager Alfonso Cortijo and backroom staff due to Cortijo leaving to China Super League

The Saints currently sit 3rd in the table in a season where a 3rd Europa League spot has opened up for clubs in Gibraltar to fight for and St Joseph’s are right in the mix to claim that spot should any of the top 2 win the Rock Cup. The blues have only lost 2 games all season and their good run had earned Cortijo the GFT manager of the month award for November 2016. Waiting in the wings is former Red Imps boss Raul Procopio who earlier in the year left the Imps and took over the reigns at Chiclana CF. It is widely anticipated that Procopio is the man to take over at the Saints. Time will tell who takes over as the Saints now have a few weeks Christmas break before their season resumes against Lynx on Monday 9th January 2017.

November brought some top goals, some of which did not make the final shortlist of 8 strikes, but from the moment it was hit, there was a feeling that goal could take the award and will take some beating for the final seasonal award. Lincoln Red Imps midfielder Yeray Patiño’s wonder strike against Mons Calpe was the unanimous winner for both the fans votes and the GFT panel site achat viagra. The early goal which put Lincoln on their way to victory against Mons Calpe was a sweetly struck volley from outside the box. Take a bow son! A similar strike but with the ball arriving on the ground saw Lynx midfielder Steven Soussi finish as runner-up with his strike against Europa Point which helped his side earn his side a much awaited first win of the season. Guillermo Roldan’s strike after leaving Saints defender Montes for dead rounds off the top 3. You can see all 8 nominated goals again by clickinghere.

After 3 and a half seasons, the Rock bids a fond farewell to Argentine hit-man Cristian Toncheff. The striker was one of the first foreign imports into Gibraltar football following the GFA’s acceptance into UEFA back in 2013. Toncheff played for Europa and Manchester 62 during his time on the Rock scoring 59 goals in 83 games across all competitions, giving him a goal ratio of around a goal every other game. Toncheff’s physical presence and an eye for goal made him a tough opponent for defences. Toncheff will be signing for Bahrain Premier Division side Al-Bahrain Sports Club, who were promoted as Second Division champions last season but now are sitting at the bottom of the table. A new team mate for the Argentinian will be Brazilian Bruno who is a player who followers of Gibraltar football will recognise from his cameo at St Josephs back in the 2013/14 season. The Argentinian released the following statement upon his departure from Gibraltar:

I would like to express via this official statement my thanks to Gibraltar for being such an important part of my life and footballing career. I have looked for many ways to express my sentiments but I have been unable to find the words to express to everyone how important this country is for me. My sincere thanks to all those people who were first to open their arms and make me feel like a “llanito”. Thanks to Malcolm and Jony, thanks to the GFA, to all the clubs, team mates and ex-team mates, thank you to Europa FC for giving me the opportunity to play here. Thank you to the referees for their continuous respect and thank you to another club, Manchester 62, for their confidence in me. I hope I will be able to repay their confidence sometime in the future whilst not forgetting the media who are also part of football in Gibraltar as thanks to their hard work, our endeavours are able to reach back home to our loved ones. Thank you and hope to see you all soon.

Toncheff began life in Gibraltar on fire scoring on his debut for the then College Europa in their 3-1 win over newly promoted Gib Phoenix. He went on to score in 5 of College’s next 6 league games as he helped guide the club to the Rock Cup Final where they suffered a narrow defeat in the last minute against Lincoln which ultimately gave them a place in the Europa League, thus becoming Gibraltar’s first representatives in the competition. As expected, it was never going to be an easy task as twice Toncheff suffered defeat in both years he played in UEFA’s 2nd tier club competition. They first came up against FC Vaduz of Liechtenstein where they suffered a 4-0 aggregate defeat. Things did not get any better the following season, where they were humbled by Slovakian champions Slovan Bratislava 9-0 on aggregate. This tie proved to be Toncheff’s final appearance in the green and black shirt before his move to Manchester 62. Looking back on his time at Europa, Toncheff was grateful to have had the opportunity to have accomplished one of his dreams.

“I was lucky to be involved in Gibraltar’s first steps in UEFA which fortunately for me gave me the opportunity to play in the Europa League which by all means was not easy.”

At the beginning of last season, he went on to sign for Manchester 62 in a project which promised so much but unfortunately to date, has delivered little. Toncheff was Manchester 62’s stand out goal scorer by a country mile last season, scoring 15 goals in 25 league appearances but it was only good enough to help the Red Devils finish 6th in the table. He did start the previous campaign on fire though, scoring 7 goals in the first 5 games which prompted him to be listed amongst the players in Europe’s top tier Divisions as the most efficient goalscorers. He was in the same company as the likes of Neymar, Aubemayang, Lewandowski, Ibrahimovic and Vardy at the time. This season has been more of the same as Manchester 62 continue to struggle near the foot of the table but in 9 games he has scored 5 goals. His only regret in his time with the reds was “not being able to help them achieve their dream to play in Europe.” However Toncheff does not close the door on a possible return to the Rock and specifically, Manchester 62.

I never close the door on opportunities to accomplish my dreams, and taking Manchester 62 remains one of them. But I believe that in life, just like in football, someday I will get that opportunity to realise it, whether it be on the pitch of off it. I don’t know when, but I know I will accomplish it.

Toncheff won many admirers during his time on the Rock and it was no surprise the avalanche of well wishes he received upon our announcement of his impending departure: